Sega is bringing Crazy Taxi back, but the use of AI is causing a lot of criticism

Sega is bringing the arcade classic Crazy Taxi back to screens. The new title promises fast rides and well-known music, but is already attracting heavy criticism due to the use of generative artificial intelligence during development.

Return of an arcade classic

Sega will release the game Crazy Taxi World Tour for PC and current and next generation consoles in 2027. The announcement was made during Summer Game Fest. Players once again take on the role of driver Alex and navigate through an open world inspired by San Francisco. The goal is to get passengers to their destination under time pressure. In addition to the classic gameplay, the developers are integrating new side activities into the game. These include, among other things, a fishing mini-game and special missions in which pizzas have to be transported undamaged.

The event will be accompanied by music from, among others, the punk rock band The Offspring. The fast-paced driving physics and colorful environments are intended to capture the charm of the original and adapt it for modern platforms. The original game enjoyed great success in arcades in the late 1990s and later became one of the best-selling titles for the Dreamcast console. More than two decades have passed since the last regular main part. Now the concept is intended to appeal to a new generation of gamers as a large-scale open-world game with multiplayer elements.

Criticism of generative AI

However, the anticipation of many fans is clouded by a technical decision by the publisher. Because Sega has confirmed (via Eurogamer), that generative artificial intelligence comes into play in development. The company says it primarily uses the technology as a support tool for its workforce. The use of generative AI is met with widespread rejection among players. Critics criticize the lack of artistic independence and point out the high environmental impact caused by the energy consumption of the data centers. There is also the accusation that many models are or could be trained with copyrighted material. Sega, however, asserts that the technology will not be used to display the characters in the game.

Crazy Taxi World Tour is created at the in-house Sapporo Studio. The project is part of a larger strategy that Sega presented at the end of 2023. The publisher plans to revive several dormant brands. While the action game Shinobi Art of Vengeance has already been released, concrete details about other announced titles such as Golden Ax or Jet Set Radio are still pending. What is your opinion on the use of generative AI in game development? Are you looking forward to the new Crazy Taxi or are you skeptical? Share your opinion in the comments.